Editing Flint, Michigan (section)

===19th century: lumber and the beginnings of the automobile industry===
In 1819, [[Jacob Smith (Michigan fur trader)|Jacob Smith]], a fur trader on cordial terms with both the local Ojibwe and the territorial government, founded a trading post at the Grand Traverse of the Flint River. On several occasions, Smith negotiated land exchanges with the Ojibwe on behalf of the U.S. government, and he was highly regarded on both sides. Smith apportioned many of his holdings to his children. As the ideal stopover on the overland route between Detroit and [[Saginaw, Michigan|Saginaw]], Flint grew into a small but prosperous village and incorporated in 1855. The 1860 U.S. census indicated that Genesee County had a population of 22,498 of Michigan's 750,000.

In the latter half of the 19th century, Flint became a center of the Michigan lumber industry. Revenue from lumber funded the establishment of a local carriage-making industry. As horse-drawn carriages gave way to the automobiles, Flint then naturally grew into a major player in the nascent auto industry. Buick Motor Company, after a rudimentary start in Detroit, soon moved to Flint. [[ACDelco|AC Spark Plug]] originated in Flint. These were followed by several now-defunct automobile marques such as the [[Dort Motor Car Company|Dort]], [[Little (automobile)|Little]], [[Flint (automobile)|Flint]], and [[Mason Truck|Mason]] brands. Chevrolet's first (and for many years, main) manufacturing facility was also in Flint, although the Chevrolet headquarters were in Detroit. For a brief period, all Chevrolets and Buicks were built in Flint.

The first Ladies' Library Association in Michigan was started in Flint in 1851 in the home of Maria Smith Stockton, daughter of the founder of the community. This library, initially private, is considered the precursor of the current Flint Public Library.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flint Public Library |url=https://www.geneseehistory.org/flint-public-library.html |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=GENESEE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY |language=en}}</ref>